Springfield, MO's Power 96.5 Fires PD For Lying

A Springfield, MO radio station has fired its program director for allegedly lying about serving in the military.

KOLR 10News reports KSPW Power 96.5, which is owned by Journal Broadcast Group, posted the following statement online Wednesday about Program Director/DJ Simon Nytes:

"We are disappointed that our employee misrepresented himself as someone who had served in the military. It is unacceptable behavior."

According to Nytes' Facebook page, he'd been with Power 96.5 since October 2007, but worked for Journal Broadcast since the mid-1990's.

"Journal Broadcast Group is committed to ethical relationships with our listeners, clients and community," the online post reads. "Specifically regarding the unacceptable behavior, that employee has been terminated. Finally, we value and are grateful for the service of our military personnel across all branches, and have the utmost respect for the sacrifices made by so many of our military personnel and their families."

Nytes was Power 96.5's afternoon DJ, and also served as program director. His biography has since been removed from Power 96.5's website and his Twitter account has also been deactivated.

Reached by phone Thursday morning by the Springfield News-Leader, Rex Hansen, Vice President of Springfield-based Journal Broadcast Group, confirmed that the post referenced Simon, who had been on air in the late afternoon. Hansen also confirmed that the situation came to the station’s attention after a YouTube video was posted by a service member who had met Simon.

In the video, Bryan Hood, who says he has been in the Army for 20 years, describes going to the radio station for a meeting. Hood says that he was told by several station employees that his military service gave him something in common with Simon, who the employees apparently believed had served in the special forces.

In talking with Simon, however, Hood could clearly tell that was not true, he says in the video.

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